Leicester confirm Harry Maguire signing

Leicester completed a five-year deal for Hull’s Harry Maguire this afternoon…

The 24-year old defender has completed the deal for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £17m.
Although Hull were relegated from the Premier League, Maguire had an impressive season, with solid defensive stats and a willingness to go forward and have a crack at goal.
The Sheffield-born England under-21 international should be a vital addition to a City defence that had began to look stretched towards the end of the season.

Maguire, the first signing under Craig Shakespeare,  told LCFC TV: “There were a number of clubs interested, but when I met the manager here, he pretty much swayed it into the direction of this club.
He showed me the way that the club is going. It’s on the up and it looks very promising for the future, so credit to the gaffer.”

PHOTO: Simon Kimber.

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Craig Shakespeare takes the Leicester reins

Craig Shakespeare has been appointed as Leicester City manager…

Leicester City’s owners have elected to go down the tried and trusted route, awarding Shakespeare a three-year deal.
The 53 year old has been a constant factor in City’s success of recent years and is very popular with the players.
He won his first five games in charge last season, guided City from the fringes of the relegation battle to a mid-table finish, and also engineered the win over Seville that took the club into the Champions League quarter-finals.

While some fans think this shows a lack of ambition, most are delighted with the appointment, welcoming the continuity, and feeling that Shakespeare has earned the job.

Best of luck Craig.

PHOTO: Simon Kimber.

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Leicester denied top half place by linesman’s flag

Leicester City 1:1 AFC Bournemouth

City rounded off their season as Champions with a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the KPS on Sunday, but they were robbed of a top half finish after Vardy was ruled offside for what should have been the winning goal…

Craig Shakespeare, in what could be his final game in charge, made two changes to his side, bringing in King and Slimani for Amartey and Okazaki.
But City, wearing next season’s kit, were caught napping in the first minute.
As Bournemouth broke upfield, Mousset got past Simpson and Fuchs down the left touchline, Fraser ran on to the loose ball and was upended by Simpson but the ref waved play on. Mousset was following up for a shot which was blocked by Chilwell, but Stanislas was following up to find the net.
This early setback rocked City and another Bournemouth cross zipped across the face of goal with no takers.
City created their first chance in the 9th minute. From a Fuchs long throw Mahrez attempted a spectacular overhead kick. It was headed clear as far as Chilwell, whose first time effort went well off target.

Bournemouth almost went further ahead in the 25th minute, but Schmeichel tipped away a well-struck 22 yarder at full stretch.
City were struggling to get their game together, and didn’t really threaten the Cherries until late in the half.
Vardy sent Mahrez into the area but he was well tackled by Daniels when poised to strike. From the resulting corner Ndidi sent his header straight at Allsop, who gathered at the second attempt.

City got their act together in the second half, and levelled in the 51st minute.
Chilwell swung in a cross from the left, which Slimani nodded back across goal where Vardy was lurking unmarked to prod him his 13th goal of the season from two yards.

Soon after this equaliser Benalouane was lucky not to see a second yellow card after a foul on Fraser, and he was replaced by Amartey.
A minute after this change Vardy appeared to have given City the lead after slicing through the Cherries defence, setting up Slimani, whose shot deflected back for him to net. The linesman halted the celebrations flagging for offside, but replays clearly showed Vardy to be level with his marker.
Vardy had a couple of chances after that, but Allsop denied him, while Slimani sent a volley off target.
Gray replaced Albrighton in the 73rd minute and the winger was given a standing ovation as he left the field, in acknowlegement of his unstinting effort this season.
City pressed forward in search of the winner that would give them a top half finish. Ndidi flashed a long range shot narrowly wide, and Chilwell sliced an effort wide of the near post. The best chance fell for Slimani, in the 85th minute when he rose at the far post to meet a Mahrez free-kick, but his header across goal went inches wide of the right hand upright.

City had to be content with a point and a 12th place finish which, coupled with a Champions League quarter-final place, had to represent a very satisfactory season for a side that had been involved in the relegation scrap for a few months.
For Marcin Wasilewski it was definitely goodbye, and he was given a great send off by the crowd. How many others will follow him out of the door, only time will tell.
Craig Shakespeare didn’t seem to know what the future held for him:  “I’ve read the owner’s programme notes and we’ll sit down – there’s no given time. It is the end of the season and I will wait for that meeting. Of course they have made their decisions for the good of the club and for the future of the club. We’ll sit down and I’ll wait for those discussions.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane (Amartey 59), Fuchs, Chilwell, Mahrez, King, Ndidi, Albrighton (Gray 73), Vardy, Slimani. Subs Not Used: Musa, Kapustka, Okazaki, Zieler, Wasilewski.
Bournemouth: Allsop, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Stanislas, Gosling, Surman, Pugh (Ibe 63), Fraser (Worthington 74), Mousset (Afobe 62). Subs Not Used: Ramsdale, Smith, Cargill, Surridge.

Referee: L Mason. Attendance: 32,000. 

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber.

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Leicester hit for six by Tottenham

Leicester City 1:6 Tottenham Hotspur

City were swept aside by a rampant Tottenham at the KPS on Thursday night, as Harry Kane racked up four goals…

Criag Shakespeare made one change to his side, with Amartey replacing King in midfield, and Huth, Morgan and Drinkwater all on the injury list.
Spurs had the first chance of the night after 5 minutes when Kane played Son in, but Chilwell nipped in to divert his shot wide.
Three minutes later, Son found some room again but sent his shot well over.
A minute after this, Mahrez cruised through a group of four yellow shirts and set up Vardy, whose fierce shot went stright at Lloris.
In a lively end-to-end opening spell, Amartey then saw his shot from the edge of the area deflecting kindly for Lloris to make an easy save.
Spurs should have taken the lead after 15 minutes, but Son still hadn’t adjusted his sights and blazed over with only Schmeichel to beat.

Tottenham were in control of the game by the 20th minute, and Kane turned and delivered a curling effort that went narrowly wide.
The visitors took the lead in the 25th minute. A long ball down the right from Alderweireld saw Fuchs gambling on trying to reach it rather than running back. He didn’t and Son was in on goal, cutting back for Kane to find the net from close in.
Spurs continued to push forward and Schmeichel made a fine save to block an Alli header.
At the other end there were loud appeals for a penlty when Vardy was floored by  Alderweireld in the area, but Michael Oliver waved play on.
Spurs doubled their lead in the 36th minute. Alli flicked the ball over the City defence and the alert Son ran through to volley it home.

City were having a torrid time now, with Spurs well on top. Kane had a shot blocked and Schmeichel saved well from Dier, with no doubt as to which side were most pleased to hear the half time whistle.

Craig Shakespeare made a change at the break, bringing Slimani on for Okazaki, and City looked better in the early stages of the second half.
Benalouane headed a Mahrez corner over the bar, and Albrighton had a shot blocked.
City then pulled a goal back in the 59th minute. Lloris came racing well out of his goal to meet the advancing Vardy and the ball rebounded to Ndidi who squared to Chilwell.
Resisting the urge to take a first time shot at an unguarded goal, the youngster rounded a challenge on the edge of the area and cooly slotted the ball past the defender on the line.
City were back in the game now, but sadly this only lasted for three minutes.
Alderweireld delivered a cross from the right, Wanyama nodded back across goal from the far post and Kane headed home from three yards, to snuff out City’s revival.
Shakespeare made his second change bringing Gray on for Benalouane, and moving Amartey back into defence.
City fell further behind in the 70th minute when Son sidestepped his way past three defenders before finding the bottom right hand corner from the edge of the area.

Gray then sent Slimani in down the left but his shot went straight at Lloris who blocked at the near post.
Musa replaced Vardy with 12 minutes left, but City looked increasingly poor as the game entered the last ten minutes.
After several attempts Kane completed his hat trick in the 89th minute, firing a low shot through Simpson’s legs from the edge of the area.
And he wasn’t done yet, scoring an almost identical goal in the second minute of time added on to complete the six goal rout.

Craig Shakespeare summed up: “There are no positives. We were totally second-best.”
If he can pick his players up off the floor, a win against Bournemouth on Sunday could still see a top half finish from this bizarre season. It might be a big job.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane (Gray 66), Fuchs, Chilwell, Mahrez, Amartey, Ndidi, Albrighton, Okazaki (Slimani 46), Vardy (Musa 78).
Subs Not Used: Kapustka, Zieler, Wasilewski, Moore.
Tottenham: Lloris, Alderweireld, Dier, Vertonghen, Sissoko (Nkoudou 90), Wanyama, Dembele (Lesniak 86), Davies, Alli, Son (Janssen 78), Kane.
Subs Not Used: Vorm, Eriksen, Wimmer, Shashoua.

Referee: M Oliver. Attendance: 31,351.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber.

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Leicester slip up at the Etihad

Manchester City 2:1 Leicester City

Leicester were denied a point at the Etihad on Saturday when Riyad Mahrez had a second half penalty disallowed for a double touch…

Craig Shakespeare was forced into making two changes to his line-up with Chilwell and King replacing the injured Huth and Drinkwater.
Man City were the first to threaten in the 3rd minute when a low cross from Sane was intercepted by Fuchs with Jesus waiting to pounce.
From the resulting corner, an unmarked Fernandinho had the goal at his mercy but got his header wrong and missed the target.
City’s unfamilar defence were looking a bit stretched, with Benalouane making a vital headed clearance before Jesus came within inches of of converting a cross.
Leicester then created a chance of their own but Ndidi’s awkaward header from a free-kick flew well over.
Soon after this Albrighton attempted a long range effort but it went tamely into Caballero’s grasp.
Man City had plenty of possession at this point but couldn’t create much. Silva broke through on the left and pulled back for Sane who mishit his shot across goal.
Ndidi blocked a Sterling effort, and then a De Bruyne 25 yarder span up off Benalouane, but sailed wide of Schmeichel’s goal.
The hosts broke Leicester’s resistance in the 29th minute. A Sane cross from the left found Silva in the area and slotted a cool finish home from 12 yards.
Sterling, in an offside position and unsighting Schmeichel, took a swing at the ball, but referee Bobby Madley didn’t judge him to be interfering with play, despite heated protests from the Leicester players.
Six minutes later Leicester were 2-0 down and there were no complaints this time as Benalouane knocked Sane over in the area with a clumsy lunge. Jesus sent Schmeichel the wrong way with his spot-kick and it was difficult to see a way back in for Leicester at this stage.
The one-way traffic continued towards the visitors goal, but with three minutes of the half left, Leicester struck back.
Great work from Albrighton down the left saw him deliver a cross that Okazaki crashed home with a brilliant volley.

Leicester started the second half with a purpose. Albrighton attempted a couple of shots, and then Kompany had to take a yellow for the team, felling Chilwell on the halfway line to prevent a dangerous looking breakaway move.
Sterling then cut in from the right and his cross struck Albrighton in the face, lengthy treatment for a nosebleed disproving the loud appeals for handball.
Leicester enjoyed a decent spell, pressing forward against a less confident looking City, without managing to deliver a telling final ball.
Toure had a shot blocked and City broke upfield, but a De Bruyne foul halted Okazaki’s progress.
Albrighton was in the wars again when Fernandinho planted an elbow into his eye, though it was judged accidental and Albrighton was left with an instant shiner and a sense of grievence.
Craig Shakespeare made his first change in the 66th minute, bringing Amartey on for King, as Leicester continued to press forward in search of an equaliser.
Slimani was then brought on for Okazaki.
In the 76th minute Leicester appeared to have made the breakthrough. Mahrez had just entered the penalty area when he was tripped by Clichy for an obvious penalty.
Mahrez picked up the ball himself and netted from the penalty spot, but wait.
The Leicester fans celebrations were cut short as play restarted with a goal kick. Mahrez had slipped at the vital moment and connected twice with his shot. Madley had shown attention to detail, without noticing two Man City players encroaching into the area and Caballero off his line.
He wasnt the first player to slip over on a pich that had been heavily watered at half time, but it was an unprecedented way to throw a point away.
With ten minutes remaining Albrighton gained revenge on Fernandinho with a heavy challenge and he was instantly replaced by Gray.
The action was end to end now. Kompany failed to nod a Silva cross under the bar, while a great Leicester move down the right saw Simpson deliver a cross for Vardy, whose flick went narrowly wide.
Otamendi blocked an Ndidi shot as the 90 minutes came up and he required treatement which would further extend the 7 minutes of time-added-on.
It was frantically scrappy end to the game. City had a free-kick when Mahrez was fouled by Silva. Schmeichel came upfield for it, but the home defence cleared and the final whistle blew.

Craig Shakespeare wasn’t happy with Man City’s first goal, or the failure to retake the penalty due to encroachment, but was satisfied with the performance:
“It’s bad luck from our point of view, but I’m more pleased with the way the lads went about it second half, we took the game to City and caused lots of problems. We looked a bit dejected first half, the two goals took the stuffing out of us, and to get our goal, a quality goal, was the first time we played with any quickness to our play. I think the players are getting every last drop out of themselves. The spirit, determination they showed was there for everyone to see.”

Man City : Caballero, Fernandinho, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy, Toure, Sterling (Aguero 78), De Bruyne (Zabaleta 82), Silva, Sane, Gabriel Jesus (Jesus Navas 90). Subs Not Used: Fernando, Nolito, Kolarov, Gunn.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane, Fuchs, Chilwell, Mahrez, Ndidi, King (Amartey 68), Albrighton (Gray 80), Okazaki (Slimani 73), Vardy. Subs Not Used: Musa, Kapustka, Zieler, Wasilewski.

Referee: R Madley. Attendance: 54,407. 

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The FOX Issue No 204 – in the shops now

The 204th edition of The FOX – The Leicester City Fanzine is in the shops now…

Featuring: An interview with former City striker, and current Nuneaton Town boss, Tommy Wright; Dipak Gohil’s Madrid photos; Fully Programmed from April 1995; Fox Diary – Craig Shakespeare’s perfect start; the latest from the Foxes Trust; City’s Brexit via Twitter; The History of Leicester City in 100 Objects;  Rewind to the team that beat Sevilla; Foxed in the Head – on bad models, bad pundits and the crusade to Orient; John Hutchinson concludes his series on Leicester Fosse; Chris Lymn reviews the pivotal point of this season; your letters and Bentley’s Roof; Parting Shots, our favourite photos of the last month; and Fanatical Frank goes to Madrid…

all for less than the price of a pint…

Tommy Wright interview extract…

FOX: You rose through the ranks very rapidly…

TW: Well I was scoring loads of goals, and they just seemed to propel me forward really quickly. I hadn’t played for the reserves or even the under-19s and suddenly there I was on the first team bench.
Dave Bassett and Micky Adams didn’t even know I hadn’t played for the 19s and I think Steve Beaglehole and Jon Rudkin got a ticking off over it.
I had two unused sub appearances and then I came on against Leeds. I have a photo of me with Woodgate and Viduka in the background.
The fans were brilliant to me. Obviously off the back of the old Tommy Wright, they sang my name. It was the same song I used to chant on the terraces. That made me feel ten feet tall, with goosebumps down my spine.

FOX: You made an appearance on the pitch in April 1995 when you were the mascot against Manchester United…

TW: Yes, I scored past Peter Schmeichel. Ade Danes was with me and dared me to do it. I trundled up to the United end and stuck one past him. He found the funny side of it. I think we lost that one 4-0.
I’ve still got all the photos from the dressing room and all that. Mark Draper made a big fuss of me.
Iwan Roberts was in there, David Lowe, Mick Whitlow. It’s funny, because I am coming up against a few of them as a manager now. Mick Whitlow is up at Mansfield. Mark Draper has his own academy, the Draper Norton College. Julian Joachim is an agent, I speak to him regularly.
When I moved up to Darlington Julian was there, this player I had absolutely idolised as a kid.
I still see a lot of Matty Elliott and Muzzy Izzet. They were unbelievably good to me when I first got amongst the first team squad.
When I scored my first goal at Gillingham Matty was all over me on the coach home, saying, “This is the start for you lad.”
Brian Deane and Paul Dickov were also very good to me. Deano loved doing finishing sessions after training and he’d take me out with him and we’d fire shots in for ages. I also liked doing extra training so I felt like I was pushing myself above and beyond. There were some great strikers at the club. Later on Dion Dublin helped me a lot. Les Ferdinand was also good to talk to. I’d chat with him in the canteen, but he never seemed to do any training. Robbie Savage was the same, he seemed to want to save all his energy for a Saturday. Whereas Muzzy was fantastic on the training ground. They used to have to drag him off the training pitch, bruises up and down his legs. He loved it. he was the best player by a mile. If you were on his team, you won the game.

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Leicester defeat Watford and climb into top half

Leicester City 3:0 Watford

A fairly comfortable 3-0 win at home to Watford on Saturday saw City moving up to 9th place in the Premier League…

Craig Shakespeare named an unchanged starting XI as City went in search of the points that would secure survival, and put them on course for a top half finish.
In a cagey start, City’s first chance came in the 7th minute when an Albrighton corner was cleared to Drinkwater on the edge of the area, but his shot went high and wide.
At the other end Cleverley had a shot on goal, but it sailed well wide of the target.
City came close in the 19th minute when Mariappa slid in to prevent a Mahrez cross from reaching Vardy and sent the ball against the right hand post.
The huge figure of Okaka was causing problems with his physical presence and he forced a good near post block from Schmeichel.
The City keeper was soon in action again as Watford carved out another chance, this time he got his fingertips to a well-struck Cleverley shot.
But it was City who took a 38th minute lead from an inventive corner kick routine.
Albrighton sent his flag kick short to Drinkwater who had some space in the area. He clipped a cross over which was only half cleared by the Watford defence and Ndidi lashed it into the net from ten yards.

Four minutes later Mahrez almost doubled City’s lead when his shot deflected off Cleverley, but landed on top of the bar.
And City took their 1-0 lead in at the break.

City had a chance early in the second half when Okazaki sent Vardy in down the right inside channel, but his low shot was well saved by Gomes.
As Watford tried to find a way back into the game Okaka got his head to an Amrabat cross but Benalouane did just enough to put him off and send his effort over.
City doubled their lead in the 58th minute with an audacious effort from Mahrez.
Marriappa made a hash of a clearance on the left and Mahrez nipped ahead of him, bore down on goal and toe-poked the ball through Gomes’s legs at the near post.

Craig Shakespeare made a couple of changes, bringing on Slimani for Okazai, and then King for Drinkwater, while the dropped Deeney came on for Watford.
In the 68th minute Vardy went clear for another chance, but Gomes denied him again.
Great work from Albrighton then sent Mahrez down the right and his cross picked out Slimani who fired his 20 yarder over the bar.
Watford were still desperately seeking a goal, but Cleverley’s dipping 25 yarder was tipped over at full stretch by Schmeichel.
Zuniga also launched a long range effort over the bar as Watford had a decent late spell, but City struck again in time added on.
As City attacked on the break, Vardy cut in from the left and picked out Albrighton’s late run perfectly, the winger lashed the ball in via the right hand post to cap a Man of the Match performance.

Although Watford had created a few good chances, the scoreline reflected City’s dominance and clinical finishing and took them into ninth place.

Craig Shakespeare summed up: “It’s one we can look at now, the whole club, and be very pleased we have managed to secure Premier League survival. The result was always going to be important. There hasn’t been any points target and we just want to finish as high as possible.” 

Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez (Gray 78), Drinkwater (King 67), Ndidi, Albrighton, Okazaki (Slimani 63), Vardy. Subs Not Used: Chilwell, Musa, Amartey, Zieler.
Watford: Gomes, Kabasele (Zuniga 72), Prodl, Mariappa, Amrabat, Cleverley, Doucoure, Capoue (Deeney 67), Janmaat, Okaka, Niang (Pereira 83). Subs Not Used: Success, Behrami, Pantilimon, Eleftheriou.
Referee: R East. Attendance: 31,628. 

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber 

——————————————————————-

You can now subscribe to The FOX – The Leicester City fanzine for the 2017/18 season…

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2017/18 Subs + cards – £20.90

2017/18 Subs – £16.95

Europe – £27.00

Rest of World – £33.00 

Many thanks for your continued support.